Farmington police, County Attorney take on synthetic drugs

Thursday

Apr 11, 2013 at 3:15 AM

By Conor Makemcmakem@fosters.com

FARMINGTON — As communities across the country seek ways to combat the increasing use of technically legal synthetic drugs, Farmington Police and the Strafford County Attorney’s office believe they have a new weapon — in the form of an existing statute.

Farmington Police will start charging violators with RSA 644:5-a Inhaling Toxic Vapors for Effect. The RSA states “A person is guilty of a violation if he or she purposely smells or inhales the fumes of any substance having the property of releasing toxic vapors, for the purpose of causing a condition of intoxication, euphoria, excitement, exhilaration, stupefaction, or dulled senses of the nervous system, or possesses, buys or sells any such substance for the purpose of violating or aiding another to violate this section.”

“We’ve been using that statute over the years for things like when kids do whippets (off cans of whipped cream),” County Attorney Tom Velardi explained. “The thought was that though the substances have not been made illegal yet, we know what the effects are and people are being hurt by their use.”

Synthetic marijuana is sold legally as incense products with names like Peak, K2 and Scooby Snax. Even though the product is sold as incense with a “Not For Human Consumption” warning on it, stores generally display it with tobacco products and next to smoking devices.

Though the products contain herbal ingredients, chemicals sprayed onto the natural substances can cause users to experience similar effects to marijuana by smoking the product. As laws are passed banning each narcotic, the manufacturer finds another chemical alternative that produces the same effects, keeping the products legal.

“The laws are trying to catch up with what the kids are doing,” said Lt. Jay Drury, of the Farmington Police Department.

Drury noted that two stores in the area sell synthetic drugs, one in Epsom and Lil’ General Store, on Route 11, in Farmington. Police recently served employees at Lil’ General with notice of the issue and supplied them with an informational article about synthetic marijuana. Drury said he had heard, but not confirmed that the store has stopped selling the products.

A Farmington Police Department press release noted that because these products are viewed as being safe and “natural,” they are increasingly being used by high school students. Additionally, when asked about these drugs, users have told law enforcement officers that there is nothing that they can do, because the products are legal.

Both Farmington Police and the County Attorney’s Office believe that these drugs are a public health issue that require their full attention and will commit the necessary resources needed to deal with this growing problem, according to the release.

“We’re hoping to dissuade people from using these substances,” Velardi said. “This was prompted by members of the Farmington Police Department having to spend time at local hospitals with people who have ingested these things.”

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, side effects from the products include rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation, confusion and hallucinations. They also can raise a person’s blood pressure and cause reduced blood supply to the heart, and in a few cases they have been associated with heart attacks. Regular users may experience withdrawal and addiction symptoms.

Drury said, “The incense they’re selling, or synthetic marijuana, you don’t know how it’s made. You don’t know what it’s sprayed with. The long term effects could be bad. There could be carcinogens, there just haven’t been enough tests. We don’t know enough about it. Even the label says not for human consumption.”

According to Drury, there are at least a few cases a week involving synthetic marijuana, including instances from nearby communities like Rochester and New Durham. The number of cases, he added, are likely about the same as regular marijuana, and might be becoming more popular.

According to a report in the Manchester Union Leader, at least one local person has been charged for allegedly driving under the influence of the synthetic drugs.

“The RSA is only a violation level offense, so I guess each police department will have to make a determination if it’s worth their time (enforcing the RSA),” Velardi said. “I do think Farmington is on the right track. I think we’re in a wait and see mode.“

According to the state’s judicial branch website, a violation is an offense which is not “criminal” in nature. In other words, while it may involve conduct which is illegal and may be charged, it is not classified as a “crime” and, for that reason, a person who is charged with a violation cannot go to jail if convicted.

The Farmington Police press release noted, “It is our hope that by prosecuting those using or selling these substances to others, we will be able to reduce its availability and minimize this public health threat.”